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On 13 September, at a “Phuket Governor Meet Press” session, hosted by Phuket Governor Norapat Plodthong at Phuket City Hall, the progress of 2017 Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) organization, this year comprising an inaugural LPT Charity Fun Run on Saturday 18 November and 24th annual LPT on Sunday 19 November, was previewed by government officials as well as members of the press.

The race, comprising 1.8Km swim, 50Km bike and 12K run in Asia’s premier destination resort “Laguna Phuket” area as well as various scenic locations in Thalang District of Phuket Island, is scheduled this year for Sunday 19 November, and once again to be participated by thousands of athletes and spectators from around the world.

Celebrating Laguna Phuket’s 30th anniversary, this year’s LPT will also include an inaugural “Laguna Phuket Tri Charity Fun Run”. Scheduled for Saturday 18 November to feature 5Km and 10Km runs for everyone in the family, the Charity Fun Run aims at raising funds for its charity partner “Kao Project”. Interested triathletes and fun runners are encouraged to register for both “24th LPT” and “1st LPT Charity Fun Run” on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October at Central Festival Phuket or online at www.LagunaPhuketTri.com

The enduring appeal and unique race distance of Laguna Phuket Triathlon attract entries from leading international pro athlete personalities, as well as age groupers worldwide. Weeks leading to the race, once again, see athletes and visitors descend to Phuket island to train, practice on course and take interval rest to get ready for the race on Sunday 19 November which is expected to be exciting. With athlete’s followers and supporters also traveling to Phuket, the race is expected to generate more than 74 million baht spending in tourism segment for the island

“I am pleased that 2017 Laguna Phuket Triathlon will once again attract athletes from around the world to Phuket Province,” said Prapa Hemmin, Event Director, represented Laguna Phuket at the press session, “We are expecting more than 1,200 athletes to join the race this year, plus another 1,000 to participate in the Charity Fun Run on Saturday 18 November. Registration opens for both events at www.lagunaphukettri.com until 13 November,” she concluded.

Like every year, Laguna Phuket will also be fundraising for Laguna Phuket Foundation during LPT. Athletes booking their slots in Laguna Phuket’s sports events are being asked to raise funds through donations and sponsorships for the resort’s long established “Laguna Phuket Foundation” to operate its various charitable programmes such as Community Learning Centre, Mobile Learning Centre, Seedlings Phuket Social-Enterprise Restaurant, Children First Fund and etc. Athletes can make donations via online event registration and at the donation booth at the event.

PHUKET, THAILAND – Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort’s third annual King of the Mountain Trail Run, held on 3rd September 2017 at 7:00 am, remains one of the most popular trail runs with 800 runners participating in the 4-km fun run, 8-km and 15-km races across Khao Phra Thaeo National Park’s mountainous terrain. 202 runners competed in the 15- km whereas 270 participants ran in the 8- km.

On the same day, the first Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic began right after the trail run at 11:00 am. The island’s newest mountain bike race featured a challenging course through the national park. Mountain bikers competed in four distances: 4-km fun race, the 9-km, the 18-km (two loops of 9-km laps) and the 27-km (three loops of 9-km laps). 50 mountain bikers competed in all four distances.

“Thanyapura has been consistent in organising trail competitions each year. This year attracted many trail runners. It benefits health, sports and tourism activities. Phuket is another province that creates successful events to align with the government’s agenda. These amazing activities will continue to build Phuket’s reputation for the tourism industry,” said Khun Virat Patee, Phuket Director of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT).

“It was fantastic event. This is proof that Thanyapura can organise a great race. I saw good team spirit from everybody and participation. We went from 80 runners in the first year to 800 runners in the third year – that says it all. Next year, it’s going to be even bigger. We’re going to push the bike race a lot more because a lot of people are interested, especially the kids,” said Paolo Randone, Vice President F&B and Sports of Thanyapura.

“As the director of both races, I’m proud and happy. We created a trail run in a short amount of time and people can find a real challenge to enjoy and experience Phuket’s jungle. The Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic was difficult and the area around it was too wild. We’re able to build a great course in amazing spots,” said David Escolar Ballesteros, Swimming and Cycling Coach of Thanyapura.

Thanyapura continues to promote non-traditional, off-road races over the past three years to experienced and beginning trail runners. King of the Mountain Trail Run is a sold-out event with a growing number of participants each year. The Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic is created by David Escolar Ballesteros, pro mountain biker and Thanyapura’s Swimming and Triathlon Coach, who recognised a rising demand for more competitive mountain biking events in Phuket.

In November, Thanyapura will organise the “Thanyapura Classic Cycling Race” on the 12thand “Foremost Ironkids” triathlon on the 25th. In December, Thanyapura will host “Colour Fun Run” on 9 December as part of Phukethon, Asia’s Major Running Festival from 8-10 December.

PHUKET, THAILAND – Amanpuri walked away as winners of the “Thanyapura 7 Soccer Charity” Competition, a fundraising event for Yaowawit School, Kapong on the 25th of August. Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort was the first runner-up while Trisara took second place.

A total of 24 Phuket hotels and companies gathered to compete in the friendly football match. The tournament took place at Thanyapura’s FIFA Standard Football Pitch and raised 84,000 baht for Yaowawit School, Kapong from following organisations:

Yaowawit School is a public-private homestay school for children from underprivileged families, located in the rainforest of Phang Nga Province, 135 km from Phuket. Founded by the “Children’s World Academy Foundation” registered in Germany and Thailand, the school was inaugurated with the blessing of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in April 2006. The goal of this non-profit organisation is to help children reach their full potential and break them out of the poverty cycle by providing them with quality education. The school was founded by German philanthropist Mr. Philipp Graf von Hardenberg in 2005. Yaowawit has partnered up with Marriott International’s “Marriott Thailand Business Council” to run the Yaowawit Pre-Vocational Hospitality Academy and Yaowawit Lodge.

On Thursday 17 August, Asia’s premier destination resort “Laguna Phuket” has hosted an inaugural “Laguna Phuket Triathlon Expo 2017” at Eden 1, CentralWorld in Bangkok. The full-day event, taking place from 10am to 10pm, was organised to promote 24th Laguna Phuket Triathlon, scheduled this year for Sunday 19 November, and launch “Laguna Phuket Tri Charity Fun Run”. Aiming at raising funds for its charity partner “Kao Project”, the Charity 5Km & 10Km Fun Run will see its first edition taking place in the late afternoon of Saturday 18 November this year at Laguna Phuket as a part of the resort’s 30th anniversary celebration.

Paneled by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chavanee Tongroach, Vice Minister for Tourism and Sports; Sanit Srivihok, Vice Governor of Phuket; Suvadhana Sibunruang, Director of Brand and Advertising Department, Thai Airways PLC and Ravi Chandran, Managing Director of Laguna Phuket, the press conference saw the launch of Laguna Phuket Tri Charity Fun Run and featured Thailand’s leading rock star and Kao Project’s representative Atiwara “Toon” Kongmalai who has participated in Laguna Phuket Triathlon in previous years, and a message from World Champion and Triathlon Legend “Jurgen Zack” from Germany.

Toon said “This year I won’t be able to join Laguna Phuket Triathlon in November due to the scheduled charitable mission by which I hope we could help more than 1 hospital. The team is finalising this year’s project details to be announced soon. Please stay tune!”

“I’d like to thank Laguna Phuket for organizing the Charity Fun Run this year to help raise funds for Kao Project. I believe it will also be a nice weekends at Laguna Phuket when the dads are there to race the Triathlon on Sunday (19 Nov), while his family get to have some Fun Run on Saturday (18 Nov)” he concluded.

Other activities at the Expo included race registration at special rates and all-day Tri-related activities. The entry was free.

PHUKET, THAILAND – A new mountain bike race through Khao Phra Thaeo National Park highlighting ecological tourist destinations comes to the island on 3 September 2017, following the highly-popular King of the Mountain Trail Run on the same day. The Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic features a new route through Northern Phuket’s 23 sq km rainforest. Bikers can test their endurance in four distances: the 4-km fun race, the 9-km, the 18-km (two loops of 9-km laps) or the 27 km (three loops of 9-km laps).

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park has attained royal status, making it more protected than other Thai national parks. The wildlife and forest reserve is a conservation space for Phuket’s wild animals and vegetation. Bikers will pass through roads surrounded by towering evergreen trees and rugged terrains.

David Escolar Ballesteros, pro mountain biker and Thanyapura’s Swimming and Triathlon Coach, said, “The course is designed to include a little bit of everything – flat sections, uphill climbs, downhill descents, normal roads, and technical sections. I recommend beginners start with the 9-km while the intermediate and advanced cyclists can race either the 18-km or the 27-km. The course is challenging for everyone.”

The mountain bike competition begins at Gate 3, in front of Thanyapura at 11:00 am with the Fun Race, followed by the other distances. The first male and female overall winners will receive a THB 3,000 cash prize and trophies. The top three finishers in the 9-km, 18-km and 27-km categories are awarded trophies. The minimum age to participate is 10-14 years for the 4-km fun race, 15+ for the 9-km and 18+ for other distances.

The race is limited to 100 participants. The registration fee is as follows: THB 450 for the 4-km fun race, THB 450 THB for 9-km, THB 550 THB for 18-km and THB 650 for 27-km (with 100 THB discounts for registrations before 1 August 2017). Participants who sign up for both King of the Mountain Trail Run and the Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic receive a THB 100 discount. To sign up, please register at thanyapura.com/events, visit Club Services at Thanyapura by 27 August 2017 or on the race day (subject to availability).

Thanyapura Mountain Bike Classic is sponsored by Live 89.5, Khao Phuket, The Phuket News, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Sports Authority of Thailand.

PHUKET, Thailand – More than 4,000 runners lined-up this morning to run the Marathon and Half Marathon distances at the 12th Laguna Phuket Marathon. With a record turnout of almost 7,000 runners over the two day event, the Marathon and Half Marathon have proved the most popular and with more than 1,600 in the Marathon distance alone, it’s the largest field of Marathon runners ever at the Laguna Phuket Marathon.

Flagged off at 04:00, Marathon runners enjoyed the beautiful course and quiet lanes in the North of Phuket, the rolling hills, Sirinat National Park and running along Bang Tao beachfront and finally running through the grounds of Laguna Phuket to finish at Laguna Grove.

In the lead group early on was Thai ultra-distance specialist Sanya Khanchai who, after a seventh place finish in the 10.5km yesterday stepped up to his favoured Marathon distance today, but it was Japanese runner Nakajima Hiroki who stole an early lead and at the 10.5km split was more than 12 minutes ahead of the second placer.

Nakajima went on to extend his lead further and finish in a time of 02:34:57.6, beating last year’s winning time by almost three minutes, and more than 30 minutes ahead of second place finisher David Escolar Ballesteros (ESP). Cheng-Ya Sha (TWN) finished third. After a slow start Spanish athlete Zigor Iturrieta finished hard in fourth, just 50 seconds off the podium.

In the female race the early leader was Sabine Egger-Weickhardt (AUS) but as the temperatures soared Japanese long-distance specialist Inoue Tomomi reigned her in and was the runaway winner in a time of 03:10:34.6. Ana Ferreira (PRT), a full 20 minutes back, finished second ahead of Martyna Jakobczyk (POL) who finished in a time of 03:38:19.6

In the Half Marathon, yesterday’s 5km winner Rattakarn Lamanee (and last year’s 10.5km winner) stepped up and was amongst the early leaders but it was fellow Thai runner Danchai Pumkong who lead to the half way point and went on to extend his lead and run out the win in a time of 01:19:37.6. Danchai also finished second in yesterday’s 10.5km and won the Marathon at Laguna Phuket Marathon in 2012.

Picking up his pace in the second half of the race, Rattakarn came through for second ahead of Thirapong Yongthio (who finished second behind Rattakarn in yesterday’s 5km), making it a Thai 1, 2, 3.

In the female field, Phuket-based triathlete Elle Brookes from Australia did the early running but Sukanya Srisawad (THA) and Patteera Ruengjai (THA) kept her in their sights. However, Sukanya fell off the pace later in the race and fellow Thai Benjamas Phujit came through to take third in a time of 01:45:53:2, just nine seconds ahead of British athlete Annie Pedroni.

Celebrating a sixth consecutive participant record, close to 7,000 runners took part in the 12th Laguna Phuket Marathon which is sanctioned by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, and is organised by leading sports management company Go Adventure Asia with professional timing and results by Sportstats Asia, ensuring the highest of international standards.

Phuket, 15 March 2017 – Two representatives of Amari Phuket’s management team, Thirawan Sichuen – Manager, Housekeeping (left), and Piraphol Hayeechema – Director, Finance (right), recently participated in the Eight Thalang Chana Suek Mini-marathon to race for the royal cup of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The marathon was organised at Thalang Victory Monument in Phuket. Amari Phuket won the trophy for the 10.5-kilometre mini-marathon for females aged 45 to 49 years old.

PHUKET, THAILAND – Thanyapura’s King of the Mountain was successfully held on Sunday, September 4, 2016, chaired by Virat Patee, Director of Sports Authority of Thailand, Phuket Office; Anoma Vongyai, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket Office; and Sirawee Waloh, Director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Phuket Office with a large number of 610 attendees. The trail run offered each runner with a choice of three distances; 4 kilometres fun run, 8 kilometres and 15 kilometres along the steep and slippery muddy slopes, and beautiful natural waterfalls of Khao Phra Theao national park.